Leveling attachment for push-button elevators



Jan. 25, 1927.

J. D. SCHAKEL LEVELING ATTACHMENT FOR PUSH BUTTON ELEVATORS Filed August 50. 1924 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB D. SCHAKEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ELEVATOR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS..

LEVELING ATTACHMENT FOR PUSH-BUTTON ELEVATOBS.

Application filed August 30, 1924. Serial No. 735,161.

My invention relates to switches, and more particularly to a leveling attachment for push button elevator switches.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a switching device for use in control'lin the movements ota body thaty movesr in a` Xed path such as an elevator moving up and down in a shaft. In certain cases it is very desirable to have the moving body such as the elevator remain at a predetermined point or station for an extended period of time and to also cause said body to stop precisely atl said station when a stop is to be made thereat. This is particularly desirable in the case ofy elevators that are used for the purpose of hauling freight, where a wheeled vehicle is to be moved from a fixed level such as a floor on to a moving platform such as an elevator or off the elevator platform on to the floor. In such cases it is very desirable that the elevator and the floor lie in the same plane or that the elevator is eX- actly level wit-h the Hoor.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide new and improved means associated with a moving body such as an elevator forA accom.- plishing this purpose whereby substantially no changes are necessary in the equipment ot the elevator and the leveling device-is merely in the form of an attachment to the previously provided mechanism. Electric elevators are ordinarily operated by a switch mechanism in the car that is to be actuated manually by the operator to cause the. car to move in either direction or to stop as desired. The mechanism in the car is ordinarily known as a push button switch and is associated with certain controlling devices that are located at a remote point trom the car, but near the motor for operating the same so that actuation of the push button switch will cause operation of the controlling means in a proper manner to move the car in the desired direction or to automatically stop the car when 'the power is shut off. The standard devices for this purpose are not involved in the present invention and are not altered in any wayin carrying out the purpose ot this invention.

y It is a purpose of my invention to provide suitable switch closingr mechanism that is actuated bythe movement of the ear or other movable body to operate the switch ordinarily provided in the ordinary manner, the operation thereof operating the motor in the usual manner through thek usual controller provided in connection with the switch adjoining the motor.

More particularly it is a purpose of my invention to provi de a switch for operating an elevator or similar moving body that moves in a lined path in opposite directions comprising a pair ot push buttons, one ot which closes a contact for moving the car in one direction and the other of which closes the Contact for moving the car in the opposite direction, said mechanism beingprovided in addition with mechanical means tor actuating said contacts, which mechanical means are controlled by the movement ot the car. The push buttons are connected up with suitable contacts on. a standard controller and the controller is provided with suitable mechanism whereby the two circuits tor operating the motor in opposite directions cannot be simultaneoizlsly closed, this being a standard construction that is wellknown in the art and is not involved in the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the push button switching device comprises a pair of push button members each actuating a movable contact member which is adapted to bridge a pair ot contacts to close a circuit for moving the car in opposite directions. The movablecontact members are provided with means tor normally holding the same in a position such that the movable contact is in open circuit position, it being necessary to constantly push the button to hold the switch associated therewith in closed position. The movable contact of each switch is preferably provided withan extension 'having a slot therein inA which the end of a lever engages that is normally held in such a position that the same will exert no pull on the extensionv ot' the Contact member, but which is: providedy with means engaging cams or other similar members inthe path of the movement ot the car to move the mov'- abler switch member associated therewith to circuit closing position.

Other objects and advantages ot ther invention will appear as the description of the accompanying' drawings proceeds. However, l desire to have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myselt to the exact details shown or described, but that l intend to include as part of my invention all such obvious changes and modiiications or' parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would tall within the scope ot the claims.

ln the d awingsz 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of my improved mechanism in position on a moving` body such an elevator car; and

Fig. 2 is a tace view on a reducedscale ot the mechanical means for moving the switch members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improved switch m-echanism comprises a base member 10, which is mounted on any suitable portion ot a movable body such as an elevator ear 11, said base member being provided with a cover 12 secured thereto in any suitable manner. Mounted on said bas member 10 is a block ot insulatingmaterial 13 and between said block ot insulatingmaterial 13 and said base member 10 is a sheet oit insulating material 1d. The member 13 is preferably made oi slate and the member 14 ot mica, although different material may be used it desired. Mounted on said member 13 are members of conducting material 15, 1G, 1T and 18. Each ot' said members 15, 1G, 1T and 18 are provided with an ear 19 having,` a screw-threaded opening tor receivingl the binding screw 2O by means ot which the conductors Q1, 22, 23 and Q-Lt are secured respectively to said members 15, 16, 1T and 18. Each ot said members ot conductingmaterial is also provided with a. boss which bosses are located in recesses 26 in the insulating member 13. Screws 27 pass through suitable openings in said insulating member and have screw-threaded engagement with the bosses Q5 to secure the conducting members 15, 1G, 17 and 18 in position, the heads of said screws being countersunl in the openings A8 as will be clear from Fig. 1, the mica sheet 1l preventing engagement ot said heads with the member 10. rlhe member 13 is iurther provided with openings Q9 into which the screws 2O extend, the screws Q0 being much shorter than the thickness ot the material 13, thus preventing` engagement ot the binding screws with t-he mica sheet 1d. The conductors 21 and 22 lead to a set ot contacts on the controller as is well-known for closing the circuit iior moving the elevator car in one direction such as for example, downwardly, while the conductors 23 and 211 lead to a similar pair or" contacts on the cont-roller :tor movingthe elevator car in the opposite direction, or upwardly. Each of the conducting members is provided with a soclet portion 30 in which a slidable contact member is lo 'ated The contact members associated with the meinbers 15, 1G, 1T and 18 beingl designated respectively by the numerals 31, 33 and 34.

Each ot said members 31, 33 and 3-1 is provided with a pair ot laterally projecting pins that are adapted to move in thc slots 3G in the condnetingjimembers to thus limit the movement ot the members 31, 32, 33 and 34C in both directions. A coil spring;` 3T is mounted in each of the socket members 3() between the contacts 31, 3Q, 33 and 3i and the bottom ot the socket, thus, providing;- a spring projected contact assoi'fiated with each oit the conductors leading` to the switch.

rille spring projected contacts 31 and Il! associated with the conductors "21 and 22 :1re adapted to be bridged by a movable contact mem er or bridg'ini; member and the contacts 33 and 3-1 associated with the conductors Q3 and Q-l are adapted to be bridged by a similar contact member 3). The contat-f' member 38 is mounted on a rod-like member L10, said contact 38 being` n'iounted between a washer t1 ot insulating' material having a hub or sleeve-like portion l2 thereon passing; through a central opening in the member 38 and a washer ot insulating material, said washers L1-1 and being secured in position on the member Ll() and being,l clamped together to clamp the member 38 betw en them by means ot' a screw -1-1, a washer ot metal being provided be'ween the insulating member and the head ot the screw del. rlhe member 38 is made in the iorm ot a disk-like member oi" any suitable good conducting material such as cop 3er and the members 31 and 32 are preferably made or carbon, although ob iously either oi' the-f4 members could be made oi any other si i.- able conducting` material. compression spring #1G is located between the boss i8 provided on the insulating member 1() aiid :i washer a9 provided on the member all between the insulatin` member gl-3 and the end t the member 10, said washer being provided to prevent any lamalsg'e oii' the insulating meniber L13 by the springA fifi.

il push button :Bti provided havino' enlarged portion 51 which is provided a recess 52 to accommoi'late the head oi t i screw 114, said enlarged portion 51 engl .ii with the member d1 to move the contae-L 38 when the button 50 is moved inwardly Atroni the position shown in Fig. 1. is slidably mounted in a hollow boss provided on the cover 12 and the end thereof is normally located inwardly from the outer end olf the boss 53. Accordingly, it will be seen that the push button cannot be accidentally moved to close the circuit by comingi into accidental engagement therewith. but the linger must be inserted in the boss 53. which has an opening ot sui/hcient size tti rlhe button .fil

lll-fi permit insertion of the operators linger, to depress the button 50 to close the circuit lor moving the elevator car downwardly. The

-enlargementl engaging with the inner side yond the member 11 yin an opposite direction' to the switch casing and parts contained therein and is provided on the outer end thereof with an enlargement 54 that is provided with a longitudinal slot 55. A bracket member 56 is mounted in any suitable manner on the movable body or elevator car 1.1 and is provided with bearings 57 for the pivot pin 58 of a bell crank lever having an arm 59, the end portion of which is engaged in the slot and with an arm 60 having a pivot pin 61 mounted in the bifurcated end 62, thereof, a roller 63 being mounted on said pivot pin 61, said roller 63 being adapted to engage with a cam member 64. The bell crank lever is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means ofthe compression spring 65 that is mounted between a boss 66 on the arm 60 ot the lever and a boss 67 provided on the enlargement 68 on the bracket 56. The normal position of the bell crank lever can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 69 screw-threadedly mounted in the arm 59 of the lever, said adjusting screw being provided with a lock nut 7 0 for locking the same in adjusted position and being adapted to engage with the projection 71 on the bearing member 66 when the parts kare in the position shown in Fig. l.

When the roller 63 engages with the cam 64, the arm of the pivot crank lever is thrown in a clockwise direction and the arm 59 is similarly moved in a clockwise direction, thus moving the member 4() to the left in Fig. l, and moving the contact member 38 into engagement with the contacts 31 and 32. The cam 64 is adjustably mounted in a fixed position in the elevator shaft or in the path of movement of the movable body in case the device is used on other movable bodies than elevators. The adjustable mounting may be of any form, being shown in the drawing as comprising bolt-like clamping means 72 whic pass through the slots 73 in the cam 64, the cam 64 being stationary and being positioned above the point which the roller 63 will reach when the elevator car floor is level with the ioor of the building. It is obvious that if the elevator car floor is above the fioor of the building, the adjustment of the cam can be made such that the roller 63 will immediately engage with the cam 64 causing the contact member 38 to be moved to circuit closing position which would cause the elevator car to move downwardly. As soon as the roller 63 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 -or after the same has left the cam 64, the spring will restore the lever to its normal position andthe spring 46 will then move the contact 38 to open circuit position, whereupon the car or other movable body7 will be stopped in the usual manner. It the button 50 is depressed when the iioor or station at which the cam 64 is located is being passed, the roller 63 will engage with the cam 64 but the action ot the bell crank lever will produce no effect on the switch mecha- 1:1?!

nism due to the tact that the arm 59 will merely move t'rom near the inner end ot the slot to the outer end thereot.

rlhe contact member 39 is mounted on the rod-like member 74 by means ot the insulating members and 43 and the screw 44 in a similar manner to which the contact 38 is mounted on the member 46. A coil spring 46 mounted between the washer 49 and the boss 48 is also provided tor projecting the member 39 in a direction a :ay from the contacts 33 and 34, the construction being `a duplicate ot the parts used in connection with the member 40. A push button 75 mounted in the hollow boss 7 6 on the cover member l2 of the switch mechanism is provided tor moving the contact member 39finto engagement with the contacts 33 and 34 `and is provided with an enlargement 77 engaging with the insulating member 41 provided on the member 74 and is `further provided with a recess 78 to accommodate the head et the screw 49, the operation otl said push button 75 being substantially the same .as that ot the push button 50, the same being mounted so as not to project beyond the casing for the same reason as the case with the push button 50.

The push button 75, whenA the same is held in depressed position, closes the circuit through the contacts 33, 34 and 39 which in a weltknown manner operates the usual controller so as to complete circuits whereby the elevator car or other movable body is moved in the opposite direction to that when it is moved when the push button 5() is depressed. As previously explained, the standard controller used for two push button elevators is provided with suitable means 'for preventing both circuits for moving the car or other movable body in opposite directions from being closed at the same time. In other words, if the button 75 has been de pressed to close the circuit to move the elevator ear upwardly, a depression or' the but- NEU ton 50 with the button 75 remaining depressed will have no effect on the operation of the elevator or other movable body ll.

The rearwardly or outwardly projecting end ot the member 'Tl is provided with an enlargement 79 having a longitudinally er;- tending slot 8O therein in which engages the arm Sl ot the bell cranl: lever having an arm S2 provided with a roller S5 that is adapted to engage with the cam 84 which is adjustable in a similar manner to the cam (it, the adjustable mounting being indicated b v the same numerals as in the case of the cani G-l. he bell crank member is photall).v mounted on the bracket 85 in a similar manner to that in which the bell cianlt lever previously described is mounted on the bracket 56. n adjusting` screw G9 being also provided on this bell crank lever tor adjusting the normal position thereof and a coil spring G5 being provided tor projecting the roller 8f3 outwardly as is the case with the rollei' 3. T he corresponding parts ot the two bell crank levers exceptl the arms and rollers are indicated by the sanie numerals, as these parts are exactly the same. Ditilerent numerals are used for the arms and rollers, as it more clearly distinguishes between the saine in referring to the operation ot the two switches.

ltwill be noted upon reference to Fig. 2 that due to the ifact that the rollers and 83 are oll'set from the arms 59 and Sl respectively ot' the bell cranl: levers, the rollers will lie in dil'erent positions and accordingly the cams Gl and 8d will lie in a ditferent -pat-h and the roller 63 will not engage with the cam Sl as it moves past the same, nor will the roller 83 engage with the cam as it moves past said cam. lt is, ot course, obvious that any number ot cams Gelanc Salinay be provided depending on the number ot tloors or stations at which the movabl body or car is to stop and it will also be seen that it all ot the cams Gat and all ot the cams S-f are aligned respectively, the roller 63 will only actuate the switch when it- ]iasses the cams (3l and the roller S3 will only actuate the switch when the same passes the cams Sir,

The operation otl the bell crank lever coniprising the members Si and 82 when the roller S3 engages with the cam 84 is obvious, such engagement causing the closing ot the switch due to the engagement et the member 53!) with the members 33 and S-l. It will be evident that the spacing ot the members (je and S-l can be such that a very accurate stopping" ot the movable body carrying the switch mechanism described can bc obtained. rthe cams can be adjusted to a small traction ot an inch so that a slight movement of the member ll downwardly ont ot its desired position in F ig. l will cause the roller S8 to engage with the cam S and close the switch 39 which controls the upward movement ot the car immediately restoring the car to its desired position level with the lioor. Similarly, an upward movei'nent of the body or car ll due to lightening ot the load thereon which would cause the roller o3 to engage with the cam (A will carse the actuation ot' the bell crank lever zsf-:ociated with the roller GS to move the contact into circuit closing position7 thus, iiamediatelyv causing the proper circuits to be closed whereby the car ll will again be caused to move downwardly until trie roller @il has lett the cam G-i whereupon the circuit again open due to lthe action ot the spi' -lft and (l5. planation.y it will also be evident that when it is not desired to stop at a lloor7 the action ot the two bell cranl; 'tch operating invinliers will have no cliect on the op ratiion oi the car as long as: ie or the other olt ille push buttons 50 or is held in circuit clo1-zposition. However, it' the one that has been depressed Ytor moving the car either upwardljg.v or dov-inwardly is released within a distance olE the Afloor such that it is within teni olf the character a switch having a ino vable contact i'nenilier adapted to control the movement ot a car, an operating nien tor iiianuallj; movingl said contact member into circuit closing position and a mechanically operated member controlled by the position ot said car for moving said contact member into circuit closing position independently ot said manual operating member.

Si car-leveling system ot the character d "bed comprising a switch having a movable contact member adapted to control the movement ot a car, z manually moving circuit closing pt ALion and a mechanically operated member controlled b v the position ot said car for movingl said contact member into circuit closing gositioii, each of said members tor moving said contact to circuit closing position being independent ot the other ot said members.

3. A car-leveling system of the character described comprising a pair ot' switches each having a movable contact member adapted to control the movement ot' a car, an operating member 'for manually moving said contact member into circuit closing position and a pair of mechanically operated inc-nibers controlled by die position ot said car operable independently ot said manualliv operated members` tor moving said contact From the above ex- L l (lll member into circuit closing position, said mechanically operated members being so mounted that one ot said members is out ot contact cl sing pos" ion when the other mem ber is in contact closing position.

4;. In a car-leveling system ofthe character described, the combination with a. movable car body ot means for controlling the movement of said body comprising a switch having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement ot the car, manually operable means for moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means independent ot said manually operable means Controlled by the movement of said body for moving said contact element into circuit closing position.

In a car-leveling system ot the charac` ter described, the con'ibination with a. movable car body of means for controlling the movement of said body comprising aA switch having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement oi the car, means no-rmally urging said contact element toward open circuit position, manually operable means t'or moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means independent of said manually operable means controlled by the movement of said body for moving said contact element into circuit closing position.

6. In a car-leveling system of the character described, the combination with a movable car body of means for controlling` the movementot said body comprising a switch having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement of the car, means normally urging said Contact element toward open circuit position, manually operable means tor moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means independent otsaid manually operable means controlled by the movement ot said body Jor moving said cont-act element into and holdimcr the same in circuit closing position.

7. In a ear-leveling system of the character described,` the combination with a movable car body of means for controlling the movement of said body comprising a. switch having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement of the car, means normally urging said contact element toward open circuitposition, manually operable means for moving said contact element into circuit closing positiony and means independent of said manually operable means controlled by the movement of said body Vfor moving said contact element into and holding the same in circuit closing position at predetermined points in the path of movement of said body.

S. In a car leveling system of the character described, the combination with a car body movable in a predetermined path, ot means for cont-rolling the movement of said body comprising a switch controlling the movementof said body in one-direction having a ymovable Contact element adapted `to control the movement of the car, manually operable means for moving said contact element .into circuit closing position, means controlled by the movement oit said body ior moving said contact element into circuit closing position, aswitcli controlling the movement of said body in the opposite direction having a movable contact element, manually operable means for moving said last mentioned element into circuit closing position, and means controlled by the movement of said body for moving said last mentioned contact into circuit closing position.

9. In a ear leveling system of the character described the combination with a car body movable in a predetermined path, ot means for controlling the movement of said body comprising a switch controlling the vement of said body in one direction having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement of the car, manually operable means ior moving said contact element into circuit closing position, means controlled by the movementoli said body for moving said contact element into circuit closing position, a switch controlling the movement of said body in the opposite direction having a movable contact element, manually operable means for moving said last mentioned element into circuit closing position, and means controlled by the movement oi' said body for moving said last nientioned contact into circuit closing position, said means controlled by the movement of said body being Amounted so that one of said means is in open circuit position when the other of said means is in circuit closing position. l

10. In a car leveling system of the character described, the combination with a. car body movable in a predetermined path past a station, ot' vmeans i'ior controlling the movement of said body comprising a pair oil switches controlling the movement oit said body in opposite directions; each switch having a movable contact element adapted to control. the movement ofi the car, means for manually moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means for moving said contact element int-o circuit closing posi-tion controlled by the movement; of said. body; the means controlled b v the movement. of the body heilig so mounted that both of said means are out ol' circuit closing position when said body is aligned with said station. y

1l. In a carleveling system of the character described the combination with a cai` body niovable in ay predetermined path past a station, of means for controlling the movement of .said'body comprising a pair ot switches controlling the movement of said (lll body in opposite directions; each switch having a movable contact element adapted to control the movement of the car, means for manually moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means tor moving said contact element into circuit closing position controlled by the movement of said body; the means controlled by the movement ot' the body being so mounted that both ot said means are ont oi circuit closing position when said.body is aligned with said station, and the one of said last mentioned means controlling movement ot the body toward said station is moved to circuit closing position upon movement of said body away from said station in either direction.

l2. A ar-leveling system ot' the character' described comprising a switch having a pair ot contacts adapted to control the movement of the car, a member movable into bridging relation to said contacts, means normally holding said member spaced from said contacts, a push button for moving said member into bridging relation to said contacts and a mechanically operated member controlled by the position ot said cartor moving said bridging member into bridging relation to said contacts, said bridging` member and mechanically operated member being loosely connected together.

l?. A car-leveling system or' the character described comprising` a switch having a pair ot contacts adapted to control the movement ot the car, a member movable into bridging relation to said contacts, means normally holding said member spaced from said contacts, a push button for moving said member into bringing relation to said contacts, a lever tor moving said member into contact bridging position and means controlled by the. position ot said car tor mechanically actuating said lever, said lever being loosely connected with said bridging member.

l-l. A car-leveling system of the character described coniprising a switch having a. pair ot contacts adapted to control the movement ol the car, a member movable into bridging relation to said contacts, means normally holding said member spaced from said contacts, a push button tor moving said member into bridging relation to said contacts, and an extension on said bridging member having a slot therein, a lever engaging in said slot tor moving said member controlled by the position of said car into contact bridging position and means l'or mechanically actuating said lever.

l5. ln a car-leveling m ol' the character described the combination with a car body movable in a predetermined path past a station, of means t'or controlling the movement oi said body comprising a pair ot switches controlling the movement ot said body in opposite directions, each switch having a movable contact element, means 'for manually moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means for moving said contact element into circuit closing position controlled by the movement of said body, the means controlled by the movement of the body comprising a pair of cams, and levers having rollers each engaging one ot' said cams, each lever operating one ot said switches.

16, In a car-leveling system ot the character described the combination with a car body movable in a predetermined path past a station, of means for controlling the movement of said body comprising a. pair of switches controllino` the movement ot said body in opposite directions, each switch having a movable contact element, means for manually moving said contact element into circuit closing position and means for moving said contact element into circuit closing position controlled by the movement ot said body, the means controlled by the movement et the body comprising a pair ot spaced cams tizced in said path, one spaced in one direction of movement of said body t'rom said station and the other spaced in the opposite direction ol movement of said body therefrom, and a member associated with yach ot said switches and co-operating each i with one of said cams to close its switch when in engagement therewith.

1T. In a. car-leveling system ot the character described the combination with a car body movable in a predetermined path past a station, ot means for controlling the movement of said body comprising a pair of switches controlling the movement of said body in opposite directions, each switch having a movable Contact element, means for manually moving said contactI element into circuit closing position and means tor moving said contact element into circuit closing position controlled by the movement of said body, the means controlled by the movement ot the body comprising a pair ol spaced cams fixed in said path, one spaced in one direction ot movement ot said body from said station and the other spaced in the opposite direction ol movement of said body therefrom, and a member associated with each ott said switches and co-operatingr each with one ot said cams to close its switch when in engagement therewith, said cams being so spaced that both said members are ont of engagement therewith when the body is in alignment with the station and the switch closing member associated with the switch controlling movement ot the. body' toward said station engages its cam when said body is out of; alignment with said station.

In witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of August, A. D. 192i.

JACOB D. SCHAKEL. 

